Releasable shackle



Jan. 18, 1949. T. J/HENDERSON RELEASABLE SHACKLE Filed Dec. 4, 19- 16 THOMAS J. HENDERSON ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

2,459,223 RELEnsABLE SHACKLE Thomas J QHenderson, Bayport, N. Y. Application December 4, 1946, Serial No. 'l13,891

This invention relates to releasable shackle arranged to form a connection between two such instrumentalities as the shroud lines of a parachute and an aviators parachute harness.

Its object is to provide a device for this and similar purposes which cannot be opened accidentally, but which can be actuated easily and quickly to release the connection. Another object is to provide a simple safety lock for the connector and a release lever associated therewith, both of which may be actuated by the thumb and fingers of one hand, even if the hand be gloved.

A still further object is to provide a spring for holding the release lever in locking positioncombined with mechanism for preventing its movement for unlocking the connection it controls in the event of the spring becoming broken. According to my invention, all of the parts of the device are enclosed and protected from injury, and have great strength but little weight.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig- 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a front elevation, of a device which is made according to and embodies my invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation on a larger scale of parts of the device shown in the preceding figures, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. In these figures, the device is shown with its parts in the relativeposition's in which they are closed and locked.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, and Fig. 5 a sectional side elevation, of the same deviceywith the parts in the relative positions in which they are unlocked. Parts of Fig. 4 are brokenaway to show some details of the construction in section. The section in Fig. 5 is taken on the'line" 5-5 of Fig. 4. In Figs. 4 and 5 the parts are-unlocked and partly separated.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a releasable member, which forms part of the device; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional side elevation of a part of the device, the section being taken on the line 'l-'! of Fig. 2.

I 0 designates a housing, whichforms a rectangular pocket having side Walls H; l2; a rear Wall l3, and a front Wall M. The inner surfaces of these walls are flat. The top of the pocket is closed by an integral part of the housing, wh'ich forms a shackle l6. Ribs I! having parallel straight sides are formed at the edges of the outer surface of the wall M. Between them is a slot I8.

29 is a thumb piece mounted to slide between the ribs H. To the thumb piece a lug 2| is riveted. This has a narrowed portion 2-2, which extends through the slot l8. A pair of springs; 23

7 Claims. (01. 24 235) in pockets 24 in the thumb piece ride upon the outer surface of the front wall l4 between the ribs- H to retard the movement of the thumb piece (see Figs. 2.and 7). The lower portion of this surface is colored, as indicated at l9, fora purpose which will be pointed out hereinafter.

30 is .a transverse cylindrical pin, which extends through and beyond the sides of the housing l0. One end portion 3! of this pin is rotatively mounted in the side wall [2. The rest of the pin is of smaller diameter and forms, with the portion 3|, a shoulder which abuts the outer surface of the side wall l2 to prevent lateral movement of the pin in one direction. vThe other. end portion of the pin is rotatively mounted in the side wall H. A spring ring 32 in a. groove in the pin 30 abuts the outer surface of the side wall H and prevents lateral movement of the pin in the other direction. A part of the pin between the side walls of the housing is cut away to form a flattened portion 33. 34 is a U-shaped release lever, the arms of which fit the parts of the pin which extend beyond the housing. 35 is a. pin which extends through a hole in the enlarged portion 3| of the transverse pin and engages the slot in-the arm of the release lever to prevent the removal of the release lever. A spring 36 surrounds the pin 30. Its ends are attached respectively to the release lever and the housing. This spring biases the pin 30 to rotate and raise the release lever into theposition in which it is shown in-Figs. 1 and 2. Its movement in this direction is limited by itsaI'ms abutting the lower part of the shackle l6. 4D is a releasable membengthe upper part of which forms a slidable fit with the inner surfaces of the walls-l l,- l2, l3, l4 ofthe housing. A hemi-cylindrical groove H is formed in this upper part of the member 40 tofit the cylindrical part of the pin 3ll,-which is between the side walls I I, I2 when the pin is in the position shown in Fig. 3. Above the groove the member is cut back as at 42 to clear the flattened portion 33' of the pin when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 5. The lowerpart of the member 40 forms a shackle 43. r

When the parts are in the relative positions in which they are shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the member All is in the housing I l with its groove 41 around the cylindrical part of the pin 30 between the side walls ll, I2, and with its'part 42 engaging the upper. part of this-cylindrical surface of the pin. The member 40 is thus securely locked in the-housing. The spring'36 maintains the pin in this locking position. It cannot rotate in an anti-clockwise direction because of the engagementor the arms of therelease lever with the shackle l6.

moved therefrom; in fact, if the housinglisshehi in a vertical position, the member will drop out of it. In Figs. 4 and 5 the member-40is'-s-liow1r partly out of the housing. In: orde tp .:prevent accidental movement of the release lever, I have provided a safety lock which comprisesa slida oie thumb piece and its lug 2!. When these parts are in their lowermost. position, as shownrinrfull lines in 3, the-center of the Lug '21! isopp'osite the upper: edge formed on: the pinbe-tweenvtits cylindrical surface:- and' its flattened; suriaee d'v. This maltes. it impossible-to rotatathe-pin: By sliding; the; thumb piece; upwardly inhoz-the positionlshown .irr. dottedi and: designated by" 20A inFi'g: 33 the'lugwill be raised.intotheiposition 2418;, where it: is clear .of. the pin. Thus, when the; safety lugi is raised; the: release: lever may actuated to rotate; the: pin in the manner-1pmviously: described. WhBl1=il7h -thumb= piece is in its raised: position, its; l'owerend: will be raised aboveathe portion" 1 9: of the front wall M whioh, as Ithave pointedzout, preferablyis colored. I have usediredrfor this-coloring, as the purpose of uncovering: this: surf-area istol provide a= visual {indication of the openingor the safety-loch.

This :devi'ce=,. in the form sh=ownand described, has been! designed for the specifie use of a flight gear connector link, but obviously it"isnot limited to that on any other specific-use:

Various modifications in construction, mode of operatiom. method and; use of" an invention may and do: occur to others, especially after benefit:-

ing fromknowl'edge' ofsuch a disclosure as that herein presented of the principles-involved; but thewinvention 'itsel'fis not confined to the present showing; i

I claim: I. A :hollow housing; liav-ingan inner rear sur face; a transverse cylindrical pin extending through: the housing spaced from said surface androtatablymounted in the-housing, a part/of the pin within the housing" being out away-to form a flattened portion-normal t-o a radius of'the pin a removable member having I a rear-surface slidable-over the rear surface of the housing; said member being provided with a transverse-groove.

in its front surface adapted to receive-the transversepin, the thickness of the par-tor the-member' abovethegroove being less" than the minimum'distan-ce of the flattened' portion ofthe pin from said rear surface of thehousing; and

' manually releasable means for locking the-pin against'rotationa I 2.. A hollow housing, having an-inner'rear surface, a transverse cylindrical pin extending thrmigh the housing spaced from said surface and rotatabl5 v mountedinthehousing, apart of the pin within the housing being: out awayito form a flattened portion normal to a radius of the: pin, a removabl'er member' having a rear. sur faceslidable over-the rear surface:ofi-thmhousing, said: -memberbeing: provided-with a. transverse groove in its front surface adapted to receive the transverse pin, the thickness of the part of the member above the groove being less than the minimum distance of the flattened portion of the pin from said rear surface of the housing, a vertically movable lug in the path of movement of an edge of the flattened portion of the pin to prevent rotation of the pin, and means for moving the lug out of said path of movement. 3'. K'hollowt hoiisingghaving aniinner rear surface; a; transverse cylindrical pin' extending through the housing spaced from said surface and rotatably mounted in the housing, a part of the :Within the housing being cut away to form afiattened portion normal to a radius of the in, a removable member having a rear surface slidable -oveoqthe rear surface of the housing, said member being provided with a transverse gloove 'in' its front surface adapted to receive the transverse pin, the thickness of the part of the member =a;bove1 the groove being l'essx than the minimum distance of? the iflattenedi portion of the pin: fromssaidf rearv sislrraoev or the housingsmanually neleasablermeans forlocking: the pin against rotation; and means for rotating the pin when said'lociting 'meanshas been: released.

4 hollow housing; having an inner rear surface; --a* transverse cylindrical: pin extending through thehousing spaced from said surface and rotatably' mounted in the-housing, a part of the pin within the housing being 'cut awa'yto form-a flattened portion normal to a radiusofthe pin, a removable member having a rear surface slidable over the-rear surface of the housiug; said member being providedwitha transverse groove in its frontsurface adapted to receive the transe .verse pin, the thickness of the part 'of' the member above the groove being less than the minimum distance of the-flattened portion ofthe pin from said reansurface ofth'e housing; a .vertically ;mov-

able ,lugin the. path of movement eras edge of the flattened portion of the pin to preventrotati'on of'the pin, means for moving thelug out of said path of .movement,. and. means for rotating the pin when saidlliug; is moved out ofsaidipa't-h of' movement.

51A, hollow housing, having an inner rear surface, .a, transverse cylindrical pin extending through the housing spaced. from. said. surface and rotatably mounted in the housing, apart of the pin .withimthe housing. beingeut away .to form.afiattenedportion normal to a radiusof the pim-a' releasetlever extending from aipantof the pin outside of--. the housing for rotating the pin in one directionasaid lever abutting the housing to -prevent rotation of the-pin in the-opposited-irection, a removable member having .arear surface, slidableu-over the rear surface-of the housing, said member, being provided with a transverse groove'in its front. surface adaptedto receive'the pineoutside of the housing-for rotating-"the pin-in one direction, said lever abutting the housing to prevent rotation of the pin in the opposite direction, and a removable member having a rear surface slidable over the rear surface of the housing, said memberbeing provided with a'transverse groove in its front surface adapted to receive the transverse pin, the thickness of the part of the member above the groove being less than the minimum distance of the flattened portion of the pin from said rear surface of the housing, and manually releasable means for locking the pin against rotation by the release lever.

7. A hollow housing, having a flat inner rear surface, a transverse cylindrical pin extending through the housing spaced from said surface and rotatably mounted in the housing, a part of the pin within the housing being cut away to form a flattened portion normal to a radiusof the pin, a release lever extending from a part of the pin outside of the housing for rotating the pin in one direction, said lever abutting the housing to prevent rotation of the pin in the opposite direction, a spring for yieldably holding therelease lever against the housing, a removable member having a rear fiat surface slidable over the rear surface of the housing, said member being provided with a transverse groove in its front surface adapted to receive the transverse pin, the thickness of the part of the member above the groove being less than the minimum distance of the flattened portion of the pin from said rear surface of the housing, a vertically movable lug inside the housing in the path of movement of an edge of the flattened portion of the pin for locking the pin against rotation by the release lever, and a thumb piece on the outside of the housing for moving the lug out of said path of movement.

THOMAS J. HENDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

